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Follow That Car!
Follow That Car!, for which I provided the research, appeared as a sidebar to this article in the September 2001 issue of MoneySense magazine
Follow That Car!
Make sure you have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) for the car before calling.
British Columbia
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)
1-800-464-5050 www.icbc.com Ask for Vehicle Damage Report.
Tells you if vehicle came from out of province. Contains the history of all claims with ICBC that involve the vehicle. Also includes any damages reported by previous owners within B.C. Cost: $16.05
Alberta
Alberta Registries
(780) 427-7013 http://www3.gov.ab.ca/gs/services/mv/other.cfm#VehicleInformationReport.html Ask for Vehicle Information Report.
Includes information on vehicle liens and a listing of up to seven past vehicle registrants; also says if vehicle has been declared not reparable.
Cost: $15.35 (request must be made in person at an Alberta Registries office)
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)
1-800-667-9868 Ask for the Used Vehicle Information Initiative.
Tells you if vehicle has been salvaged, rebuilt or declared not reparable in any province; also tells you in which other provinces it’s been registered.
Cost: $10
Manitoba
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI)
1-800-665-2410 (ask for public inquiries)
Ask for serial number check or write-off check.
Covers only history within Manitoba. With the VIN, you can find out if car has been salvaged or declared not reparable. With the previous owner name and plate number, you can get accident and theft claims history. Cost: Free of charge
Ontario
Ministry of Transportation
1-800-387-3445 www.mto.gov.on.ca Ask for Used Vehicle Information Package.
Contains list of previous registrants within Ontario; notes if vehicle has been out of province. Cost: $20
Quebec
Quebec Public Automobile Insurance Plan
1-800-361-7620 Ask for Vehicle Record.
Provides list of previous business owners and type of vehicle use within province. Available only by mail. Cost: $8 As of fall 2001, vehicle mileage will be noted and added to this package, which will be available from insurance plan service centres throughout Quebec.
New Brunswick
Service New Brunswick
(506) 453-2834 Ask for vehicle search.
Provides list of previous owners; reported accident history; may contain odometer history. Cost: $8 (request must be made in person at Service New Brunswick centre)
Nova Scotia
Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations
1-800-898-7668
Only current owner of vehicle can obtain information. You should ask the seller to show you the owner’s information before you buy. Cost: $10
Newfoundland
Department of Government Services & Lands — Motor Registration Division
(709) 729-2519 Ask for vehicle abstract.
Provides list of previous owners; notes if vehicle has been salvaged, rebuilt or written off within the province of Newfoundland. Cost: $10
Prince Edward Island
Access PEI (902)
368-5200 Ask for vehicle inspection information.
Provides provincial information only. With VIN, you can get up to five years of accident history and number of owners. With the inspection sticker number, you can obtain additional information, which may include odometer history. Cost: $10 (request must be made in person at Access PEI office)
Yukon
Department of Community and Transportation Services Motor Vehicle Office
1-800-661-0408
Office can provide confirmation on rebuild, salvage and write-off history of vehicle. Cost: Free of charge over the phone. Fax or mail service is $6.
Northwest Territories
Unavailable.
Nunavut
Department of Community, Government and Transportation, Motor Vehicles Division
1-867-360-4614
With owner's permission, rebuild status can be checked. Cost: $12.84
Canada-wide
Industry Canada has a comprehensive package of consumer resources for automobile owners at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/ca01510e.html. It includes contacts for all major auto manufacturers, dispute resolution organizations and consumer advocacy groups.
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